Computer Science

PhD, MPhil

Computing at Leicester offers supervision for the degrees of:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - full-time and part-time
  • Master of Philosophy (MPhil) - full-time and part-time

Supervision and research areas

We offer PhD and MPhil supervision in Computer Science in areas compatible with the research interests of our academic staff including:

  • Algebraic and Categorical Structures and Methods
  • Algorithm Design, Analysis, and Engineering
  • Creative Computing
  • Deduction, Rewriting, and Transformation
  • Models of Software Intensive Systems
  • Software Evolution
  • Knowledge Discovery and Machine Learning

Interested in a different research area?

It is important that the area you want to work in is broadly compatible with our research interests - otherwise we may not be able to accept your application.

However, please do not feel we will not be interested if there is not an exact match. It is sometimes possible to be flexible, so please contact us.

Funding

For a list of our available scholarships/studentships, please visit our funded opportunities pages.

Can you fund your own study?

We have a number of PhD projects available to UK/EU and International applicants who are able to fund their own study or who already have their own external sponsor. (see links below)

Self Funded Projects

  • Dr Furqan Aziz: Deep Graph-Based AI for Medical Imaging
  • Dr Bogdan Grechuk: A Lean-Powered Library of Diophantine Equations
  • Dr Behnam Hasemii: Lyapunov and Sylvester Matrix Equations: From Backward Error Analysis to Solving Ill-Conditioned Problems
  • Jiayan Qiu: Development of Comprehensive Visual Understanding Model
  • John Drake: Automated Generation of Heuristics for Combinatorial Optimisation using Agentic AI
  • Katrin Leschke: Numerical behaviour of transformations of discrete isothermic surfaces
  • Kehinde Aruleba:
    • Project 1: Responsible Generative AI for Programming Education: Code Verification, AI Literacy and Ethical Practice
    • Project 2: Designing Human-Centred AI Tools for Sustainable Programming Education in Low-Resource Contexts
  • Marco Volpe:
    • Project 1: Explainable AI for storytelling: a logical framework for narrative coherence
    • Project 2: Neurosymbolic AI for narrative: bridging language models and formal story representations
  • Shigang Yue: LLM-powered co-working between human and swarm autonomous robots
  • Wentao Li: Scalable and Robust Graph Neural Network-Based Recommender Systems
  • Yang Hu: Biophysically Constrained Graph AI for Modelling Tumour Microenvironment Dynamics in Cancer Research
  • Matias Ruiz:
    • Project 1: Novel Numerical Methods for Multiple Wave Scattering
    • Project 2: Mathematical Foundations of Nonlocal Metamaterials
  • Marco Fasondini: A sparse discontinuous Galerkin method for modelling acoustic scattering 
  • Professor Paul Ledger: Data driven inverse techniques for object identification
  • Sergei Petrovskii: Mathematical models of mass extinctions and climate tipping points accounting for the interplay between biotic and abiotic feedbacks
  • Neslihan Suzen: Advancing ontology-based NLP for Healthcare Data Analytics
  • Josh Cork: Skyrmions, holography, and gravitational instantons
  • Professor Tanya Vladimirova:
    • Project 1: Deep Learning Algorithms for Space-based Ship Detection and Maritime Awareness
    • Project 2: Deep Learning Algorithms for Space-Based Flood Detection and Monitoring

Entry requirements

You must hold a UK undergraduate (Bachelors) degree with at least first class or upper second class honours or an equivalent qualification from a recognised overseas institution.

See academic entry requirements and the English language entry requirements.

How to apply

  1. Make sure we offer PhD/MPhil supervision in the area you want to work in

  2. Draft a brief (1,000 words maximum) personal statement that includes:
    • A brief description of your intended research and why you want to work in this area
    • Names of potential PhD supervisors that have expertise in your chosen research area
    • A description of any relevant research experience - for example, as part of a previous degree
    • A list of any academic work you have published or which is awaiting publication
  1. Prepare your supporting documents - with your application you need to include proof that you meet the academic entry requirements and the English language entry requirements:
    • include all relevant certificates/diplomas and transcripts
    • international applicants must provide official copies of their entire course transcripts including explanations of the mark schemes used
    • supporting documents not in English must be provided with a certified English translation
    • CV
    • Enter contact details for two academic (not personal) referees who can comment on your suitability for the research degree programme in the space provided or upload letters of reference on signed headed paper if already available. Potential PhD supervisors cannot act as referees.
    • In the funding section please state how you intend to fund your study
    • In the proposal section please provide the name of the supervisors and project title 
       
  1. Submit your online application using the Apply button at the bottom of this page.

When to apply

We have intakes in January, May and September each year.

You should try to submit your application as far in advance of your preferred start date as possible. If you are an international applicant and require a visa to study in the UK you should submit your application at least 5-6 months before the proposed start date.

After you have submitted your application, it will take a minimum of six weeks for you to receive a decision about your application.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees vary according to your fee status and the mode of study (full-time or part-time).

UK campus based

*UK fees will rise each year of study in line with UKRI rates.

Full-time

  • 2025/26 academic year: £5,006
  • 2026/27 academic year: £5,238

Part-time

  •  2025/26 academic year: £2,503
  • 2026/27 academic year: £2,619

International campus based

Full-time

  • 2025/26 academic year: £23,650 - £33,250 per year
  • 2026/27 academic year: £24,250 - £34,100 per year

*International fees vary according to the nature of the research project to be undertaken. The applicable fee will be determined at the point an offer of admissions is made and will be stated on the offer letter.

Owing to UK visa restrictions, part-time campus based registration is not normally available to international applicants.

Duration of study
The maximum registration permitted is four years full-time or seven years part-time.
The typical duration of a full time PhD is 3 - 3.5 years. PhD students may use the fourth year (seventh year PT) as a 'writing-up' year for which a reduced fee is payable if active research has been completed (currently £100).
 

Funding

For a list of our available scholarships/studentships, please visit our funded opportunities pages.

Phd description

PhD students complete an independent research project under the guidance of a supervisory team. The research is normally completed over a maximum period of 3.0-3.5 years (full-time) or 6.0-6.5 years (part-time).

A fourth year (full-time) or seventh year (part-time) or the remaining part of this can be used to prepare the thesis for examination. The thesis should not normally exceed 50,000 words and must make an original contribution to knowledge and contain work of publishable quality. The thesis must then be defended in a viva voce (oral) examination before a degree can be awarded.

PhDs explained

Application options

Apply: full-time Apply now
Apply: part-time Apply now
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